Lessons From Acts – Lesson 1
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
The former treatise that he refers to is the book of Luke. Luke wrote two books of the Bible the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Luke was a doctor and traveled with Paul. Paul as you know had some kind of medial issue and had prayed 3 times for the Lord to remove it, but God’s answer was that His grace is sufficient.
Luke went with Paul for I think more than one reason. To give medical support but also I believe that God sent Luke to be a companion with Paul to not only be a friend but also so Luke could record for us the book of Acts.
The book of Acts is an exciting book full of action and amazing things that happened. Some will misunderstand the book of Acts and they will try to take some of the things that happened in Acts and try to bring those forward and try to do them today.
One of the things that they fail to understand is that much of the book of Acts happened during a period of transition. It starts out as Jesus ascends back to Heaven and before the Holy Spirit comes.
The book of Acts also starts out with mostly only Old Testament scriptures being available. When the events in Acts chapter 1 and 2 happened no other New Testament scriptures had been written yet.
Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Luke wrote the book of Acts after he wrote the book of Luke. However, Luke is going back in time a ways and records what happened before any of the gospels were written. So when those events happened there was no New Testament Scripture. And by the time you get to the end of Acts several other books of the New Testament were written.
So as Luke records this history and as he moves forward just know that other books of the New Testament are also being written by others but that is a slow process. By the time that the events of Acts are finished there are many New Testament books still to be written.
God did some special things in the beginning to demonstrate, to validate, to prove to people that the men preaching were giving forth God’s message.
For example John and Peter will go up to a lame man at the Temple and heal him. This gathers a crowd and then they preach to the crowd. The healing miracle validated these men as God’s men and thus validated the message they preached.
Once the New Testament was finished miracles are no longer needed to validate a man’s message. Why not? Because once the Bible was finished the Bible is all that is needed to validate a man’s message.
We have the completed Word of God. Today you know if a man’s message is right if it lines up with the Bible. Today you can listen to a man and read the Word of God for yourself and know if the message is correct or not.
While the New Testament was still being written that was not the case.
Knowing that the book of Acts is a transitional period as the New Testament is being written is important.
And there is much we can learn from the book of Acts. We will see many things that are important to God. And we will see God work over and over again in the lives of people and we will see Him use His almighty power in the circumstances of life.
Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Jesus rose from the tomb, then went to heaven and then came back. We know this because of what Jesus said to Mary outside the tomb. He said don’t touch me because I have not yet ascended to the father. Then when Jesus sees the disciples He tells Tomas to touch Him.
Jesus arose, briefly talked to Mary, rose to Heaven, and came back. Once He was back He showed Himself to be alive for 40 days. And it says Jesus gave many infallible proofs to the fact that He was arisen and alive.
Not just one or two but over and over again. He let people touch Him and He sat down and ate with people.
And He talked to them and taught them for 40 days. Verse 3 tells us that Jesus taught about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Jesus had tried to prepare His disciples for what was going to happen on the cross, but they just did not get it. They were too focused on the promises of scripture that have to do with Jesus’ 1,000 year reign, which will not happen until Jesus comes back in power.
They could not see that Jesus first had to go to the cross and pay for the penalty of sin. Jesus had to literally take the sin of man upon Himself on that cross. God had declared from the very beginning that the wages of sin is death. So someone would have to die to pay the penalty.
And the only payment that would be good enough was if it was someone who was sinless. The just dying for the unjust. The only one that would satisfy God’s justice was The Son of God.
The disciples did not understand that and they did not understand that there will be a church age before Jesus comes back in power to set up His 1,000 year reign.
So when they came and arrested Jesus in the garden that night, all the disciples forsook Jesus. Every one of them fled. Only John and Peter came back. And Peter stopped short at the enemy’s fire and denied Jesus 3 times.
At the cross it was only John and a few women that stood by Jesus.
Jesus knew that His men were not ready yet. He knew that they needed more teaching and that they were going to be able to understand now that they finally got past only looking for and only wanting the promises of the 1,000 reign.
They will finally get the truth of the cross and salvation. And over these 40 days as Jesus patiently works with them and teaches them, they will get on board with the job that Jesus has for them to do.
Not all at once. And not all of them right away. It is a little bit of a process. That is something that we see come up quite often. Salvation happens instantly once you realize your sin and need for a Saviour and with a repentant heart call upon God to save you.
That happens in a few moments. However, learning about your Saviour and learning to walk with God and learning about what He wants you to do and growing closer to Him. All of that is a process. People have to learn and grow and learn some more and grow some more.
It takes teaching and it takes time. Of course Jesus knows this and Jesus is patient and works with people. So Jesus came back and spent 40 days working with His children.
This shows us something of the heart of our Lord. He cares. He understands, He is faithful. He does not forsake His children when they mess up. He just keeps reaching out.
Jesus does not hold grudges. They all forsook Him and here Jesus comes back and lovingly and patiently works with them.
Jesus knew exactly what they needed. He knew what they needed first of all was Himself. He knew they needed to know that He cares. He knew exactly the lessons that they needed to be taught over these 40 days.
And all of these truths apply to us today. Jesus is still lovingly and patiently working with His children. Jesus cares about us today the same way that He cared about people over 2,000 years ago.
And to do the great work that Jesus had for them He knew that they needed the Holy Spirit to indwell them and empower them in the work.
Jesus will give them what we call the Great Commission. Which is to go into all the world and teach about Jesus. But Jesus tells them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come before they head out.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Remember Acts is a transitional book. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit would come into a man’s heart for a time, for a certain purpose and then leave. Samson is just one example.
That is still the way it is in Acts chapter one, but soon that is going to change. The New Testament says
Rom_8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Once the Holy Spirit came as the comforter everyone that gets saved gets indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In fact the Bible teaches that if you don’t have the Spirit of Christ indwelling you then you are not His.
This is a marvelous thing. That God the Spirit would come and indwell us and help us and guide us and give us grace. This is incredible news.
You would think that the disciples would respond with questions about that. But look at how they answer.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
They are still focused upon the promised kingdom. That was a huge problem for them. At this moment they are still not totally over only looking for that. But they are going to take the journey on that soon.
Jesus responds with patience. He does not yell at them. He simply tells them that is not for them to know, and then Jesus tells them more about what they should have been asking about.
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus flat out clearly tells them the main job of the Holy Spirit. He gives power to witness about Jesus. After the Holy Spirit comes upon you, ye shall receive power, and ye shall be witnesses unto Jesus.
And notice where. Everywhere. To the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Those are angels.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
They angels basically said quit just standing there. The Lord gave you a job to do so get going. He is not coming back right now.
Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
So they head back to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit to come like Jesus said to do.
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
If you count the names you will see there are 11 apostles.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
After they had been continuing in prayer Peter is going to speak about Judas who betrayed Jesus and about what the Old Testament prophesied about that.
Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Acts 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Acts 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Judas betraying Jesus was no surprise to God. God told all about it centuries before it ever happened. And God gave instructions centuries before that after Judas dies that they should replace him.
Here we see a huge change in these men. Before Jesus spent the 40 days teaching them and working with them they were not doing what God wanted. Many of them quit and went back to fishing as a profession.
After the 40 days of Jesus working with them they are following instructions in this area and doing what God wants. They are going to do what the Scripture tells them to do and pick a replacement apostle.
So before they choose someone Peter gives the qualifications needed for an apostle.
Acts 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
There can be no apostles today. No one today can meet the qualifications. There will always be some guy who claims he is an apostle. Impossible. Because to be qualified you had to walk with Jesus. You had to be alive and walk the earth during the same years that Jesus did.
Acts 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Did you catch it? These Christians are concerned about what Jesus wants. That is primary for them. They want to please their Lord. They want the man in the job that Jesus wants in the job.
O’ that is precious. It really is. They are not concerned about what one person might want. They are not putting church politics into it. They are truly letting the Lord be the Lord.
They are being what some call Saviour Sensitive and not being seeker sensitive.
Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The change in these Christians is a great thing to see. And it is important to remember that it did not happen in a few hours. It did not happen overnight.
It took teaching and patience and the Lord working in their lives and in their hearts.
And as we will see, they are still going to have to learn some things and still going to have to grow. For some things it will take a long time.
That is the way it works.
We should always have patience with people and let God work in their lives at the pace and in the way that God thinks best.